Dear Editor,
It may be a pointless task to react to the ramblings of the ever-snide-speaking MP Everard Warmington's comments as he has decided to continue uttering unapologetic rhetoric of a reprehensible sort, including his comments about "non-voters". But MP Warmington stepped in it again.
This time he has decided to enforce a rule of Parliament that he has exclusive knowledge of: the "no senators allowed in the lower house" rule. This came to light in Gordon House Wednesday evening during the closing session of Parliament's Standing Finance Committee, when Minister of Justice Senator Mark Golding was being questioned by Opposition MP Desmond McKenzie.
The bipartisan ruckus and shameful display was, however, highlighted by Warmington's daring assertion: "You are a senator here; you are not a member." No doubt this would have stimulated some silent quips about the ongoing 'senator saga' happening in the Jamaica Labour Party camp.
If only Warmington was just explaining that Senator Golding was a Member of Parliament, hence not a member of the Lower House, it would have been understandable. But his aim was to quiet Golding by alienating him through his position as a senator; that is, the unelected, independent, intelligible echelons of the Upper House.
It may just be making something out of nothing, but MP Warmington expected that a senator (a Cabinet minister at that) would curl up in a ball and surrender after giving such a compliment. Although the Senate has lost its true constitutional path, becoming a political nursery and not maintaining its independence, the truth remains that it is the Upper House; above the political fray and ideally a place of intellectual debate, unlike the lion's den of the Lower House.
As it concerns the recent developments around the Senate, it only signifies the corrosion of the constitution that yearns for reform and revolution like our health sector. However, any constitutional reform must see the Senate (and Lower House) becoming elected bodies more accountable to the people than political parties.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com
Warmington wrong again
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It may be a pointless task to react to the ramblings of the ever-snide-speaking MP Everard Warmington's comments as he has decided to continue uttering unapologetic rhetoric of a reprehensible sort, including his comments about "non-voters". But MP Warmington stepped in it again.
This time he has decided to enforce a rule of Parliament that he has exclusive knowledge of: the "no senators allowed in the lower house" rule. This came to light in Gordon House Wednesday evening during the closing session of Parliament's Standing Finance Committee, when Minister of Justice Senator Mark Golding was being questioned by Opposition MP Desmond McKenzie.
The bipartisan ruckus and shameful display was, however, highlighted by Warmington's daring assertion: "You are a senator here; you are not a member." No doubt this would have stimulated some silent quips about the ongoing 'senator saga' happening in the Jamaica Labour Party camp.
If only Warmington was just explaining that Senator Golding was a Member of Parliament, hence not a member of the Lower House, it would have been understandable. But his aim was to quiet Golding by alienating him through his position as a senator; that is, the unelected, independent, intelligible echelons of the Upper House.
It may just be making something out of nothing, but MP Warmington expected that a senator (a Cabinet minister at that) would curl up in a ball and surrender after giving such a compliment. Although the Senate has lost its true constitutional path, becoming a political nursery and not maintaining its independence, the truth remains that it is the Upper House; above the political fray and ideally a place of intellectual debate, unlike the lion's den of the Lower House.
As it concerns the recent developments around the Senate, it only signifies the corrosion of the constitution that yearns for reform and revolution like our health sector. However, any constitutional reform must see the Senate (and Lower House) becoming elected bodies more accountable to the people than political parties.
Mario Boothe
m.raphael.b@gmail.com
Warmington wrong again
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